New law granting extension of residence and work permits for international students
Good news, international students: now is another reason to love the happiest country in the world. If you are planning to study in Finland, now may be the best time to move – the country has just done so passed a new law On April 15, 2022, by granting foreign students a residence permit for the entire duration of their studies, says the Helsinki Times.
Previously, foreign students in Finland had to extend their residence permit every year or two, even without studying. The change, which is intended to attract more global talent to the Nordic countries, would also grant non-EU students and researchers a two-year jobseeker’s permit.
“The new legislation facilitates the daily lives of international students by eliminating the need to apply for a residence permit separately for each academic year,” said Elina Immonen, Deputy Director General of the Finnish Immigration Service. “The revised rules also make sense from the point of view of the authorities, as residence permits can always be revoked if the conditions attached to them are no longer met.”
Inside something Press releaseThe Ministry of Economic Affairs and Labor clarified that students and their family members are entitled to a residence permit corresponding to years of study. Working hours for non-EU students increase from an average of 25 hours to 30 hours per week. Graduates can apply work permit within five years of graduation and can even do it abroad.
“The government wants to make it easier for international students and researchers to stay in Finland with seamless licensing practices. The new law enables students to look for work here and makes Finland a more attractive destination for international experts, Minister of Labor Tuula Haatainen said in a statement.
The old conditions for studying still apply in Finland
Although the new law is a victory for non-EU students and signals Finland’s readiness to compete with other countries in a global higher education competition, future students must still comply with the existing conditions before they can start studying in Finland.
Foreign students only have to present funds for one year of their studies in Finland, regardless of the total length of time required to graduate, the release states. Students are responsible for the cost of living, and the authorities closely monitor their livelihood to secure the entire period of validity of the residence permit.
Non-EU students are still required to pay tuition fees and are not entitled to financial support from Kela, says the Helsinki Times.
The proposed reforms will make it easier for students seeking to stay in Finland and seek employment. 🇫🇮#StudyingFinland #IntlEd https://t.co/FqXoXjbxbQ
– Study International (@Study_INTNL) February 7, 2022
The new law was first proposed February 2022. The status of international student visas for current students will change from “B” (temporary) to “A” (permanent), which will effectively reduce the length of stay required to obtain Finnish citizenship.
“This is again a signal to international students that they are welcome to join the Finnish labor market and become members of Finnish society,” said Immonen. quoted saying.
Extending the work permit will certainly give graduates more respite from finding employment in the country. Starting a career in Finland can prove challenging for foreign students, as according to Study in Finland, not all fields of study have jobs before graduation. Prospective employees may also require fluent proficiency in Finnish or Swedish to consider their application.